Water heater in DSI Fault mode

[Loa]

Water heater went to DSI Fault mode after firing up normally and warming water up, I did notice that it stayed running longer than usual then it turned off and immediately went into fault mode. I cycled switch in the morning and it did same exact thing, what does this fault indicate???
Thanks in advance..

Ray
2002 H R Endeavor

[Skip426]

Can you add you water heater brand and model # to your post .

Do you have the owners/users, manual ?

[Loa]

It's an Atwood brand....model #GC10A-3E
I don't have a manual for heater


Ray & Pela
2002 HR Endeavor

[Skip426]

Mine is Suburban 10 gal so my manual and tests , won't help.

In the " Files " drop box ; Dark Blue bar just over from the " User CP " there are various manuals , if not there , then the Atwood web site for a down load .

Only time my water heater went into lock out was when I'd run out of propane , the heater tries to light three times then locks out the ignition cycle and the light stats on.

[FOSJ]

Mine has gone into DSI fault twice in 5 years...1st time, bad thermostat sensors-replaced and cleared fault. A year or two later had a leaking overheat/overfow valve valve that created corrosion between same sensors and the side of the tank-replaced valve and cleaned sensors...cleared fault.

[Loa]

Thanks for replies...replaced thermostat and all is working as should


Ray & Pela
2002 HR Endeavor

[nodine]

Originally Posted by Loa

Thanks for replies...replaced thermostat and all is working as should


Ray & Pela
2002 HR Endeavor

Most likely cause is low propane. Do you have plenty of propane? Can you light your stove or a furnace? Anytime we get the DSI fault it is caused by air in the propane line.

Bob

[wa8yxm]

Two things cause FAULT mode One has a whole lot of sub issues though
1: Failure of the flame sensor to sense flame. .See sub issues
2: Over heat.. The ECO (Emergency Cut Off) opened and cut it off. (Sub issue here only applies in the spring.. On Atwood they tell you to remove the RED wire from the ECO when you drain the thing... Yup, failure to restore red wire) Other sub issue, bad connection/failed board.

Sub issues on 1
Out of gas
Burner clogged
Bad flame sensor
Bad control board
Insect activity
And the ever popular bad connection.

On mine, often when using GAS with the heater COLD. it would Fault, Fault, Fault, Work normally.. and keep working till I shut it off.

Finally it failed, utterly so I had to replace the control board
now.. Faults are rare..

IF you replace the Control board. I recommend Dinosaur boards, For logistic reasons I could not,, but I used them for the Furnace. and WOW, one well built board.

[Old-Biscuit]

Reason your Atwood went into fault mode was due to the bad t-stat......when it doesn't open water (140*F) continues to heat until the ECO Opens (Energy Cut Off----HIGH temp t-stat 180*F)
Whenever the ECO opens be it on propane or electric it triggers the FAULT Light.
The ECO auto resets when water temp drops below 150*F BUT no reheating can occur until owner manually resets the FAULT Light.....turning On/Off switch OFF then back ON.

Fault Light will also be triggered when on propane and Main Flame is not 'PROVEN'
When main flame lights a milivolt signal is generated (flame ionization) and that signal goes back to circuit board to 'prove' a flame is burning.
3 attempts made to fire off then 'lock out' and FAULT Light.
Reset same....On/Off switch off then back on

Lack of propane flow
Dirty spark electrode
Bad grounding
Bad/loose connections


Suburban WHs only have FAULT Light for main flame failure....no signal
IF High Temp T-stat OPENS owners has to manually reset so no fault light used.

[Long Island Mac]

I have an Atwood water heater (93105 variable temp). Occasionally, the DSI FAULT lights up. I turn the heater off, wait a few seconds, turn back on, light stays off. Today light stayed on. Turned unit off, and turned on the gas. Plenty of hot water. Turned off gas, went out . Came back (3 hours later) turned on el water heater, no fault light. I expect that there is something waiting to stop working permanently. Have read previous posts, but the mentioned MFG # does not correlate. Suggestions???

[Loa]

I replaced t-stats and its working as it's supposed